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iPad can’t activate because activation server can’t be reached

iPad was running an old IOS, downloaded new IOS but won’t download. Reset all the settings and then went to re-activate iPad and it stated “iPad could not be activated because activation server can’t be reached” any ideas?

iPad, iOS 11

Posted on Feb 19, 2021 5:11 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Feb 20, 2021 6:36 AM

If your iPad is a cellular model, some have reported that temporarily removing the sim allows activation to complete.


Otherwise, 5 possible causes for that error message:


1] Activation server is actually down. Very rare occurrence, and of short duration when it

does happen. Solution - try again.

2] Your firewall and/or antivirus software are preventing the necessary connection. Solution -

temporarily disable your firewall and/or antivirus software until the activation completes.


3] computer being used for activation has been used to jailbreak an iOS device in the past.

Solution - use a different computer.

4] iPad has been jailbroken. Your favorite search engine may provide some direction, but jailbreaks often prevent

activations/updates from succeeding. Per Terms of Use for this forum, discussion of jailbroken iPads is

prohibited.


5] your region and/or timezone settings are inconsistent with your actual location. Solution - set region and/or timezone correctly.


You should also check this article: If you can't activate your iPhone - Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201407

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Feb 20, 2021 6:36 AM in response to Staton1018

If your iPad is a cellular model, some have reported that temporarily removing the sim allows activation to complete.


Otherwise, 5 possible causes for that error message:


1] Activation server is actually down. Very rare occurrence, and of short duration when it

does happen. Solution - try again.

2] Your firewall and/or antivirus software are preventing the necessary connection. Solution -

temporarily disable your firewall and/or antivirus software until the activation completes.


3] computer being used for activation has been used to jailbreak an iOS device in the past.

Solution - use a different computer.

4] iPad has been jailbroken. Your favorite search engine may provide some direction, but jailbreaks often prevent

activations/updates from succeeding. Per Terms of Use for this forum, discussion of jailbroken iPads is

prohibited.


5] your region and/or timezone settings are inconsistent with your actual location. Solution - set region and/or timezone correctly.


You should also check this article: If you can't activate your iPhone - Apple Support. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201407

iPad can’t activate because activation server can’t be reached

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